Library Access for Students with Visual Impairment and /or Total Blindness By Jan Cook & Andrea Bodnari, IU 13, Teachers of Students with Visual Impairment and Blindness Lancaster-Lebanon IU13 December 11, 2008
The "How To" of Library Access: Enlarged Print
1. The School District Library staff can produce Large Print copies of any handouts given to the class by using their own school copier.
Please make sure to see the Specially Designed Instruction / Program Modifications
(SDI) section of the student's IEP for specific accommodations regarding print access
(e.g. appropriate font style, font size, paper color, etc.)
Students must be official clients of this Library. IU 13 Vision Support Staff are the "certifying authorities" required to verify visual impairment. The application will establish the student's reading level, number of materials needed each month, and type of material requested, as well as the mailing address. Texts are available in enlarged print, and materials may be sent directly to the school if you have that address on record.
Once the student is a client, the student or the school Library staff may contact the Library directly via mail, phone, FAX, email or OPAC to order books, and to make changes to the student's profile. Typically, the materials will arrive in either a hard box or a cloth zipper bag. To return the materials, the student should flip the print address label, and place the container into the U.S. mail out-box in the building. The materials are sent and returned via Free Matter for the Blind.
OPAC (Online Public Access Catalog) lists large print books available at the website listed above. Books can be searched by title, subject or author. Access is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You will need the student's name and book ordering information.
Please be advised that this Library is for PA, DE, and WV. There are no "due dates" for return of materials, and therefore the materials that you need may not be available on specific dates.
3. Personal Magnifiers &/or Closed-Circuit Television Systems (CCTVs) Some Visually Impaired students may have a personal magnifier and/or CCTV as part of their school equipment, when prescribed by their eye care specialist. Most personal magnification devices are portable, and can be available for use in the school Library.
Personal magnifiers are usually hand-held devices, which can be used with any paper information. They may also work for brief, emergency computer monitor access.
The CCTV, or video magnifier, is a system which uses a video camera to project a magnified image of a book page or handout onto a screen or monitor. The camera consists of a zoom lens which magnifies an image. In most cases, the zoom lens has a set magnification and focus which the individual user can manipulate and set when they have identified the most comfortable and functional working distance for the material. Some systems feature a lens that has an automatic focus, while others have a fixed focus. Many low vision children and adults can benefit from the use of stronger magnification devices because their glasses or hand held devices no longer provide enough magnification. The CCTV allows for the individual to choose and create the best contrast level, magnification level, text and background color combinations.
The CCTV has two common styles.
1. The first type of system is stand mounted where the material has to be placed onto a tray below the camera lens. This tray is also referred to as the “XY” table. This table/tray is able to be manipulated by the user to move left to right and up and down manually or with a switch. The stand mounted system is convenient to use to write because it is designed with enough space for a writing utensil to be used under the camera.
2. The second system is a handheld system or portable system. The camera is a separate unit which can be moved within its reaching distance to the object or material to be viewed. Some handheld systems are available with rollers which allows for the system to be moved smoothly on a flat surface. As with the stand mounted system, the some handheld systems offer a writing stand as an accessory item. These two systems can be found in one unit.
#1. CCTV #2. Quicklook Zoom Portable Video Magnifier
4. The Library staff may work in conjunction with IU 13 Vision Support staff. Students identified as having a Visual Impairment, and who have an IEP for that exceptionality, will have a Vision Support staff member assigned to their case. You may contact that person at any time to assist you. Your Principal, Guidance Counselor, and/or classroom teacher should have a name and contact information for that person. All Vision Support staff may be contacted at the IU office by calling #717-606-1600 and asking for the Vision Support Program. Please have the student's name and your specific requests handy when you call.
IU 13 can provide the following materials for your Visually Impaired student: n large print textbooks which we will order from PaTTAN in Harrisburg (a clearinghouse for adapted materials) or American Printing House for the Blind (APH) n generic enlarged Library books from our limited warehouse collection. Specific titles may be requested. The majority of our collection is appropriate for elementary level readers.
5. Freeware/Shareware Screen Magnification The following software is available to anyone for free.
* You will need to contact your school district's Technology Department to discuss district policy regarding downloading software onto school district computers.Firewalls and network administrative issues need to be addressed with your school system's IT personnel.
These freeware/shareware products offer full screen magnification.
How to Make Your Library Accessible to the Visually Impaired
Windows Systems
Windows has several options built into their Start Menu. These options can be easily accessed by clicking the Start button, click Programs, click Accessories, and lastly click Accessibility.
The following options will allow the user to make changes needed to suit their visual needs.
Accessibility Wizard walks the user through a series of questions to set their visual preferences. Preferences include changing the icon size, the mouse size, contrast, the cursor size, the font size, the scroll bar size, as well as utilizing the screen magnifier.
Magnifier gives a partial screen magnification "window". The user can adjust the size of the magnification window by dragging the edge with the mouse cursor, to a maximum of ½ screen size. Magnification levels are 1-9x. The magnification can be adjusted to follow the mouse, follow the keyboard focus, and to follow the text editing. Lastly, it also allows the user to change the contrast or use white letters on a dark background.
Narrator is a very limited screen reader. It will read aloud on-screen text, dialog boxes, menus and buttons in the Windows environment only. Additional options include announcing events on the screen, reading typed characters, and moving the mouse pointer to an active item.
On Screen Keyboard displays a keyboard which is accessible using the mouse. (Not typically a need for visually impaired students)
Problems Encountered within Various School Districts in IU 13
In many elementary schools the Start button is locked or is not accessible to students.
In high schools the Start button is typically unlocked, however the Accessibility options are locked.
Many schools do not have speakers, so the audio options are turned off. This leaves the Visually Impaired student with no access to speech output.
All of these simple modifications to the windows environment can be solved by contacting your technology department to unlock the options listed above.
6. Computer Screen Enlargement Programs
A. Definition
Screen enlargement programs refer “to either a software program loaded into a computer’s memory that will magnify text and graphics that appear in most common applications, or a hardware/software system that [do] the same thing.” This is not to be confused with hardware magnification systems that are magnifying lenses mounted on top of monitors. Magnification programs run simultaneously with the computer’s operating system and enlarge “the information on the screen by pre-determined incremental” levels of magnification. Typically, the enlargement is from 2 to 16 times the original size. Inexpensive screen magnification programs limit magnification to 2X and some of the more sophisticated products offer magnification up to 32X. The price of magnification software (without speech output) can vary from $400-$600.
B. Types of Screen Enlargement Programs In general, screen magnification programs are available in three types.
1. “Full-featured screen magnifier,” that enlarges the whole screen. Most of the full featured screen magnification programs now include a text to speech feature.
2. A "magnifying lens" that enlarges a portion of the screen that is displayed as a moving “viewport”around the mouse.
3. "Basic screen magnification programs," such as that contained in the Control Panel of Microsoft Windows 98 and Windows 2000, in the section of called "Accessibility Options". This feature enlarges part of the screen in a narrow window which is visible along the top of the screen. Similarly, Macintosh Systems Software includes a screen magnifying option called Zoom, found within Tiger 10.4 and above.
C. Current Options
Presently, there are five leading full-featured screen magnification programs for Windows based software to choose from.
1. System Access from Serotek Corporation -- a free program accessible on-line or with a free USB drive, for those students who need minor visual adaptations (DEMO).
2. ZoomText 9.1 from Ai Squared -- for sale, for those students who need major visual adaptations (DEMO) 3. Magic 8.0, for sale from Freedom Scientific
4. Lunar Plus 5.3, for sale from Dolphin Computer Access
5. BigShot, for sale from Ai Squared.
With the exception of BigShot, which is a simple screen magnifier for individuals requiring minimal magnification, the remaining four products have screen reader capacity.
D. Disadvantages Adding software screen enlargement to a computer will consume conventional memory in the computer and could cause problems with other software application packages which access the same memory. For those programs without the speech option, heightened magnification will reduce efficiency for reading and locating information on the screen. For example, the larger the magnification level, the less text will appear on the screen at one time. Thus, the user must use the mouse or pan feature to access all information available at the original size. Additionally, for those who have 12 inch monitors this proposes additional problems with magnified material going off the screen. In this case, purchasing a larger monitor may be the best, but costly solution.
E. Demo Version / Trials www.largeprint.com or www.magnifiers.org
Your IU 13 Vision Support staff member will most likely do software trials with the VI student. They may go to one of these websites to download a demo version (if one exists) of the program. You may wish to do a trial for yourself, so that you can test it with your Library programs. Please be sure to discuss this with your district technology department prior to any demo download.
After the demo program is downloaded, and the trial time expires, if it is determined by the student's
educational team, that they would benefit from its use, while the school district is ordering it, the demo
can simply be rebooted for another trial period.
For Zoomtext and BigShot the trial is for 30 days only, with NO reboot option.
Example:Zoomtext 9.1 www.aisquared.com Once on the website, see the left pane for access to the " Tutorial ". This will give you an excellent idea of the capabilities of this program.
Image of two computer monitors - one without magnification and the other with ZoomText 9.1
Personal Screen Magnification Systems
With new advancements in technology, many of the companies producing screen magnification software are making this software available on a flash drive or USB drive. This makes all computer systems in your library accessible by inserting the thumb drive into the USB port. Zoomtext by AiSquared, is now producing this type of software, however in order for a student to run the software it must be installed. Therefore, the student would require administrative privileges.
System Access
The Serotek Corporation has partnered with several vendors to provide a full suite of accessibility tools including a screen reader (speech output) and screen magnification software. This software is available completely free to anyone, anywhere, with an internet connection by going to www.satogo.com. The software is compatible with Windows XP and Vista (all versions), Internet Explorer 6 & 7, MicroSoft Office 2003 and 2007, Adobe Reader and Mozilla Firefox. Keys for K-12 provides a free license for System Access suite to all K through 12 students in the U.S. This same software is available on a flash drive inserted into the USB port. Unlike Zoomtext, this is a U3 software program that does not need to be installed on the hard drive. This software runs within the system tray. For more information please visit www.serotek.com/kk12.html
Custom Settings Available include:
Text-to-Speech preferences: Text-to speech engine, Voice, Speaking Rate, Speaking Pitch, Punctuation
Magnification preferences: system access menu selections, screen magnification; select magnify, select larger or smaller buttons to adjust the magnification size
Problems Encountered within Various School Districts in IU 13
Once the website www.satogo.com is accessed, it will ask you to "Click run" to access an .exe file. This file has been interpreted has a download in some districts and thus the software will not run.
In some districts the USB drives are not accessible to insert the flash drive.
In some cases the security is so controlled that U3 software programs are not permitted to run.
All of these simple modifications to the windows environment can be solved by contacting your technology department to unlock the options listed above.
7. If the student has a laptop device with enlarging software installed, the Library staff can place documents that they have created or copied onto a USB (Flash) drive. The student can upload the files, and use their software to access them.
Save your files with the .txt extension for universal compatibility.
Apple systems new OS software starting from Tiger 10.4 and above has included built in software to accommodate the need of the visually impaired. The universal options menus is accessible by clicking the apple, click system preferences, and then click universal options. The Mac OS X includes many features to assist you, including a built-in screen reader, voice commands, screen magnification, high-contrast settings, and other technologies and features described below.
VoiceOver (speech output)
Your preferences — to go
Once you’ve customized your own Mac, you can take all your VoiceOver settings with you on the road. To do so, connect a USB flash drive to your Mac and choose Create Portable Preferences from the File menu in VoiceOver Utility.
When you connect the flash drive to a Mac, VoiceOver automatically detects its presence and instantly reconfigures itself to match the Portable Preferences saved on the flash drive for such items as your Pronunciation Dictionary, Braille input key assignments, and NumPad Commander settings.
Once you’ve customized your own Mac, you can take all your VoiceOver settings with you on the road. To do so, connect a USB flash drive to your Mac and choose Create Portable Preferences from the File menu in VoiceOver Utility.
When you connect the flash drive to a Mac, VoiceOver automatically detects its presence and instantly reconfigures itself to match the Portable Preferences saved on the flash drive for such items as your Pronunciation Dictionary, Braille input key assignments, and NumPad Commander settings.
ZOOM (screen magnification software)
Magnification: Zoom lets you use the scroll wheel on a mouse, a trackpad gesture, or key commands to magnify the entire contents of your screen by up to 40x.
Cursor Magnification: enlarges the contents of your display at any time using Zoom, located in the Universal Access pane in System Preferences. Zoom lets you use the scroll wheel on a mouse, a trackpad gesture, or key commands to magnify the entire contents of your screen.
Contrast: You can increase or decrease contrast by switching the screen to white-on-black or black-on-white, and you can vary the contrast using a slider control. If you would like to remove all color from the screen, you’ll find controls for displaying everything in black and white or grayscale.
Finder View Options: Use View Options (Command-J) to adjust the text size of icon names (from 10 to 16 points) and their thumbnail previews (from 16 by 16 to 128 by 128 pixels). You can change the background, normally white, to any color to increase contrast. And you can adjust the grid spacing between icons as well.
Dock Magnification: Though the Dock can be quite small if you add a great many items, Mac OS X lets you set the default size of Dock icons so they're easier to see. You can also use Dock Magnification to automatically enlarge the icon currently under the mouse pointer.
Safari Cascading Stylesheets (CSS)
The Safari web browser included with Mac OS X features additional Universal Access preferences for web browsing. For example, a checkbox can be set to prevent a web page from being displayed using fonts smaller than the minimum size you set, from 9 to 24 point. By default, pressing the Tab key in Safari navigates only the toolbar and the form elements on a page. Pressing Option-Tab will navigate every element. If you prefer, you switch this behavior so pressing Tab key by itself will navigate every element and pressing Option-Tab navigates only the toolbar and form elements.
Using the style sheet pop-up preference, you can apply a custom cascading style sheet, called a “css”, that changes the way a web site is displayed without requiring the web site author to make any changes. This is a great way to customize the appearance of web pages to suit your specific needs.
Problems Encountered within Various Districts
4. System Preferences is blocked to students
5. Universal Options menus are blocked to students
6. VoiceOver does not work with Apple Words or MS Word. In order for the user to utilize speech output for word processing they must utilize Text Edit. This is similar to word pad in the windows system. This should be made accessible so VI students and type their information and then cut and paste it into the word processing document of their choice.
All of these simple modifications to the windows environment can be solved by
contacting your technology department to unlock the options listed above.
The "How To" of Library Access: Braille
1. If the student has a Braille laptop device, the Library staff can place documents that they have created or copied onto a USB (Flash) drive. The student can upload the files, to their device and use it to access them.
Save your files with the .txt extension for universal compatibility.
Students must be official clients of this Library. IU 13 Vision Support Staff are the "certifying authorities" required to verify visual impairment. The application will establish the student's reading level, number of materials needed each month, and type of material requested, as well as the mailing address. Materials may be sent directly to the school if you have that address on record.
Texts are available in Braille. Once a client, the student or the school Library staff may contact the Library via mail, phone, FAX, email or OPAC to order books, and to make changes to the student's profile. Typically, the Braille materials will arrive in a hard box. To return the materials, the student should flip the print address label, and place the box into the U.S. mail out-box in the building. The materials are sent and returned via Free Matter for the Blind.
OPAC (Online Public Access Catalog) lists Braille books available at the website listed above. Books can be searched by title, subject or author. Access is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You will need the student's name and book ordering information.
Please be advised that this Library is for PA, DE, and WV. There are no "due dates" for return of materials, and therefore the materials that you need may not be available on specific dates.
3. Seedlings Braille Books for Children P.O.Box 51924
Livonia, MI 48151-5924
Phone #800-777-8552 FAX #734-427-8552
Website: www.seedlings.org Email: seedlink@aol.com
Seedlings Braille Books for Children is a non-profit, tax exempt organization dedicated to increasing the opportunity for literacy by providing high quality, low-cost children's literature in Braille (and in some cases print with Braille).
Book levels include ages 1-12. Ages 1-5 includes books with print & Braille & pictures. Ages 4-9 includes books with print & Braille. Ages 7 and up include books in the fiction, non-fiction and poetry categories. They are sold for approximately one-half of what it costs to produce them, with prices generally between $4-22. Purchase orders are accepted. A catalog is available for ~1000 books.
Seedlings "Rose Project" provides World Book Encyclopedia articles in Braille for free. To order, contact Seedlings (if using the website, go to "Special Projects" link on left pane, and then Rose Project) and include the student's name, school address, school phone number and contact person's name, grade, and specific article needed. The article will be shipped via UPS (where available) within 5 working days.
4. National Braille Press 88 St. Stephen Street
Boston, MA 02115
Phone: 617-266-6160, Ext 20 (Toll free) #800-548-7323
Catalog orders: 800-548-7323
FAX: 617-437-0456
Email orders: orders@nbp.org
Website: www.nbp.org or www.braille.com
This company sells Braille, cassette and disk materials, which are shipped "Free Matter for the Blind". Allow 4-6 weeks for delivery. Orders can be sent via UPS, for a fee. Contact their Customer Service Dep't for rates, #800-548-7323.
Titles are available in the following categories: Baby Board books, Tactiles, print/Braille picture books, textbooks and tests, educational books, poetry, valentines and magic, literature, self-help, cookbooks, adaptive technology.
Almost all products are also available in PortaBook format (disk or CD-ROM) or for download from their website into a Braille note-taking device.
5. The Library staff may work in conjunction with IU 13 Vision Support staff. Students identified as having a Visual Impairment, and who have an IEP for that exceptionality, will have a Vision Support staff member assigned to their case. You may contact that person at any time to assist you. Your Principal, Guidance Counselor, and/or classroom teacher should have a name and contact information for that person.
All Vision Support staff may be contacted at the IU office by calling #717-606-1600 and asking for the Vision Support Program. Please have the student's name and your specific requests handy when you call.
IU 13 can provide the following materials for your Visually Impaired student: - Braille textbooks, which we will order from PaTTAN in Harrisburg, a clearinghouse for adapted materials), or American Printing House for the Blind (APH) - Braille handouts for your Library classroom (which we will produce in-house)
- Generic Braille Library books from our limited warehouse collection. Specific titles may be requested. The majority of our collection is appropriate for elementary level readers.
The "How To" of Library Access:Speech
1. Using a sighted peer or adult as a "Reader" is often a part of the VI student's IEP accommodations. The "Reader" does not teach the student, nor do they give them the answers. They simply act as a pair of "eyes" and say aloud the information that the visually impaired student is unable to access.
Students must be official clients of this Library. IU 13 Vision Support Staff are the "certifying authorities" required to verify visual impairment. The application will establish the student's reading level, number of materials needed each month, and type of material requested, as well as the mailing address. Materials may be sent directly to the school if you have that address on record.
Texts are available on cassette. Once a client, the student or the school Library staff may contact the Library via mail, phone, FAX, email or OPAC to order books, and to make changes to the student's profile. Typically, the materials will arrive in a hard plastic container. To return the materials, the student should flip the print address label, and place the container into the U.S. mail out-box in the building. The materials are sent and returned via Free Matter for the Blind.
OPAC (Online Public Access Catalog) lists cassette books available at the website listed above. Books can be searched by title, subject or author. Access is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You will need the student's name and book ordering information.
Please be advised that this Library is for PA, DE, and WV. There are no "due dates" for return of materials, and therefore the materials that you need may not be available on specific dates.
RFB&D
IU 13 may order textbooks, including Literature Classics from Recordings for the Blind & Dyslexic. Mature students may order their own texts. IU 13 pays for the student's membership at this agency. The School District is usually asked to purchase the hardware and software needed as part of the student's IEP. Books come on CD or as downloadable e-texts.
IU 13 will instruct the student in the process of accessing and using these texts as a part of their IEP. When learned, the students take responsibility for ordering and using the texts independently.
There are 3 main ways to access these texts:
1. with a CD and a specialized CD player purchased from RFB&D; the player can be brought to school as needed, but is typically used for homework (2 samples below)
2. with a CD and specialized software purchased from RFB&D; usually loaded onto the student's computer at home
3. by downloading from the RFB&D website onto the personal or school* computer, and then into the student's personal Braille (laptop) note-taking device; backup copies are often stored on USB drives because of their size
Firewalls and network administrative issues need to be addressed with your school system's IT personnel.
Victor Reader Wave
Victor Wave
Victor Reader Classic X Plus
Victor Classic
4. Screen Reading Software JAWS for Windows -- The most popular screen reader worldwide, JAWS® for Windows® by Freedom Scientific, works with your PC to provide access to today’s software applications and the Internet. With its internal software speech synthesizer and the computer’s sound card, information from the screen is read aloud, providing technology to access a wide variety of information, education and job related applications. JAWS also outputs to refreshable Braille displays, providing unmatched Braille support of any screen reader on the market.
JAWS is most often used by students who are totally blind and have exceptional cognitive skills. There are a multitude of commands that must be memorized in order to access the complete realm of computer programs used in a typical Library through the use of JAWS.
5. READERS -- for downloading DAISY files
Header saying Kurzweil - National Federation of the Blind Reader
The Mobile Reader Product Line from knfbReading Technologies, Inc., is a major advancement in portability and functionality of print access for the blind, the vision impaired and those with reading difficulties. The knfbReader Mobile and kReader Mobile software packages run on a multifunction cell phone that allow the user to read mail, receipts, handouts and many other documents wherever the user happens to be. This is a truly pocket-sized solution to reading on the go. The knfbReader Mobile software has a feature set designed for blind or low vision users. The kReader Mobile is designed for people who have difficulty reading due to learning or language problems. knfb Reading Technologies is a Joint Venture between Kurzweil Technologies and the National Federation of the Blind.
The "How To" of Library Access: Speech +
1. Optical Character Recognition Systems
A. Definition Optical Character Recognition (OCR) systems, for the blind or visually impaired user, convert printed text into a computer file, which is then read via synthesized speech, Braille, or magnified output on a monitor. According to the AFB, “there are three essential elements to OCR technology --scanning, recognition, and reading text.” First, the printed text is scanned by a camera. The images are converted by the OCR software into words and characters that can be recognized. Once recognized, the text is spoken by the speech synthesizer. The information is then stored in temporary files within a computer or the memory of the OCR system itself, where they can later be retrieved and used with a variety of applications.
B. There are two general categories of OCR systems: scanning and reading software for use with a personal computer, and (self-contained) stand-alone systems.
1. Scanning and Reading Software Most scanning and reading software has similar basic features. The software makes printed or electronic text accessible to blind or visually-impaired users by converting it into speech and/or magnified text. Each has a variety of speech options available, such as speed and pitch, to allow the user to customize to suit his/her needs. Almost any form of printed material that can fit on the scanner can be scanned and saved. Most of the products researched also have the ability to access and save files, edit scanned material, make/take notes, make margin notes, and bookmark. Various tools for writing and editing are also included, such as spell checker, thesaurus, and dictionary. Some of the products also have the ability to speak each letter or word as it is being typed. Most of the software can allow the user to access and read electronic text formats & files, including .doc, .pdf, and .rtf, send files to other devices, and search, download and read electronic books and magazines from sites including Web Braille, Gutenberg, Bookshare.org, and others. For Braille readers, some programs allow transfer of files to a Braille embosser or to/from a Braille note taker. For low vision users, the software allows a display of magnified images in black and white, color, or inverse text, and can highlight words as they are spoken.
2. Stand-Alone Systems Stand-alone scanning and reading systems are beneficial for individuals who only want to read documents, and/or are unfamiliar with personal computers. They simplify the process of scanning and reading by including a PC, keypad, flatbed scanner, sound card, speakers, disk drives, and OCR software in one unit. The individual can scan his/her reading material, have it read back, save it to a file, and in some systems, connect with other products such as a Braille note-taker.
SAMPLEPRODUCTS
Kurzweil 1000
Open Book 7.0
VIP
WYNN Wizard
Scan N Talk
Example: OpenBook Scanning and Reading Software
Scan N Talk
2. Screen Readers Screen Readers are software programs that read text on the computer screen in a manner that an individual who is blind or visually impaired could know what is on the screen. The screen reader identifies graphics such as those located on the tool bar or icons located on the Desktop. It also reads menus, text, punctuation, and control buttons. Newer versions of screen readers will read what is happening on the screen, for instance which dialogue boxes are opening on the screen.
Braille: Other types of screen readers may transfer the information to a Braille display so that the person can read the Braille instead of listening to the information.
The screen reader allows the person listening to control the computer via special keyboard commands, which the screen reader employs solely for the individual who is blind or visually impaired, instead of the mouse. Some screen readers operate using their own touch-pad instead of a keyboard. A. Using a Screen Reader To use a screen reader, a software screen-reading program is needed. This program gives information to the speech synthesizer. The speech synthesizer is hardware or software that produces electronic human speech on the computer. This voice is what reads the information sent from the screen to the computer user. Most often the speech synthesizer is included with the screen reader. Without the speech synthesizer there would be no voice output. Most programs include different male and female voices to choose from. The cost of programs range from free downloads to approximately $2,000.00. Screen Readers are primarily available for Windows applications. However, there are a few compatible with Macintosh.
B. Advantages · Offer input to speech synthesizers · Offer input to Braille display · Come equipped with speech synthesizer · Offer choice in speech output · Can be used in school, home, and office settings · Hot key commands as an alternative to using the mouse · Available for pocket PC’s · Choose from male or female voice · Voices available in international languages · Interactive talking installation · Supports Internet Explorer
C. Disadvantages · Can be very costly · Not all available in Macintosh Format · Typing too fast distorts the speech · Not all provide a spoken list of keyboard commands · Not all include the speech synthesizer · Some synthesized voices are difficult to listen to
Screen Reader Programs: Side-by-side Comparison
Screen Readers
Manufacturer
Interfaces With
Spoken Directions
Cost
Synthesizer
ASAP
Microtalk
Reads Screen/Windows/Ibm/Notebook/Micro Channel;
Standart $795 Battery operated synthesizer program $895. Without a synthesizer $525.
Yes
$525/$900
Yes
Cicero
Dolphin
Windows Applications, 98, Me, NT 4.0, 2000 & XP, and can be installed on laptops and home PCs.
Top/Explorer/Dial up Network/Notepad/Winzip 7.0/Simply Web 98/2000
Simply Talker2000
EconoNet
WindowsXP/2000/NT4/ME/95/98
No
$100
Yes
Supernovav5.20
Dolphin AT
Windows, 95,98,ME, 2000, NT, XPWide & Local Area Networks/Laptops; $975
Yes
$975
Yes
System Access
Serotek Corporation
Windows XP and Vista (all versions), Internet Explorer 6 & 7, MicroSoft Office 2003 and 2007,
Adobe Reader and Mozilla Firefox
Text Aloud
Nextup Technologies
E-Mail/Documents/Web; $14.95 - $19.95
No
$15/$20
Text-to Audio
Premire Assis. Tech.
Microsoft Word, HTML, Rich Text and Standard ASCII file formats. $895.
Yes
$895
Yes
Voiceover
Apple
Mac OS X -- magnification options, keyboard control and spoken English descriptions of what’s
happening on screen. If you have a visual impairment, VoiceOver enables you to work collaboratively
with other Mac users or work on their computers without assistance.
Window Eyes
GW Micro
Windows 95/98/ME/2000/XP
No
$595
No
ZoomText
Ai Squared
All Windows Applications, Web, E-Mail
Yes
$$395
Yes
Wynn Wizzart
Freedom Scientific
Reads Text Files, Word Processing, Internet; $995.
Yes
$995
Yes
Cast eReader
Cast Inc
Windows/ Macintosh; $199
Yes
$229
Yes
3. Some visually impaired students may be using "e-books" (publications that require access through electronic means). E-books can be read on-line, downloaded and read on a computer, or downloaded and read on a dedicated hardware device.
Ebooks come in 4 main types:
1. Digital Braille (.brf files) which are ready to be made into hard copy Braille, or can be used with an electronic Braille note-taker (laptop) or refreshable Braille device.
2. Digital audio (DAISY files, e.g. .wav, .smil) requires a special digital player or software; RFB&D is an example of this type of e-book
3. E-text files can be converted into Braille which is then made into a hard copy, or used on a Braille note-taker or refreshable Braille device, or screen reader or screen magnification software.
4. Commercial e-books usually require a specialized player, and are often inaccessible to blind readers
Ebooks in the Public Domain are usually available for free download by anyone. Copyrighted books in specialized formats are available only to individuals with disabilities who qualify under the U.S. Copyright Law as amended.
Two examples of online Libraries of accessible media for readers with print disabilities are: www.bookshare.orgYou can create an individual or group account. Free subscription for users who qualify for services. Books, textbooks and periodicals are available. Formats available include DAISY (text), .brf (copyrighted books), .html and .txt (books in pubic domain). Registration can be done online, but proof of visual disability must be included (e.g. IU 13 Vision Support teacher), and you must request a free student subscription.
http://www.gutenberg.netProject Gutenberg is the oldest digital library with the largest source of out-of-copyright e-texts. There is no fee. Books, speeches, videos, music and pictures are available. Formats include .txt, .html, .mp3, .mpg (video). Use the website; no sign-up is required.
See next two pages for a complete listing of sources for electronic books.**
By Jan Cook & Andrea Bodnari, IU 13, Teachers of Students with Visual Impairment and Blindness
Lancaster-Lebanon IU13
December 11, 2008
The "How To" of Library Access: Enlarged Print
1. The School District Library staff can produce Large Print copies of any handouts given to the class by using their own school copier.
- Please make sure to see the Specially Designed Instruction / Program Modifications
(SDI) section of the student's IEP for specific accommodations regarding print access(e.g. appropriate font style, font size, paper color, etc.)
2. Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped
919 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107
#1-800-222-1754 FAX #215-683-3211
Mon-Fri 9am - 5pm
Website: http://lbph.library.phila.gov
Email: flpblind@library.phila.gov
Students must be official clients of this Library. IU 13 Vision Support Staff are the "certifying authorities" required to verify visual impairment. The application will establish the student's reading level, number of materials needed each month, and type of material requested, as well as the mailing address. Texts are available in enlarged print, and materials may be sent directly to the school if you have that address on record.
Once the student is a client, the student or the school Library staff may contact the Library directly via mail, phone, FAX, email or OPAC to order books, and to make changes to the student's profile. Typically, the materials will arrive in either a hard box or a cloth zipper bag. To return the materials, the student should flip the print address label, and place the container into the U.S. mail out-box in the building. The materials are sent and returned via Free Matter for the Blind.
OPAC (Online Public Access Catalog) lists large print books available at the website listed above. Books can be searched by title, subject or author. Access is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You will need the student's name and book ordering information.
3. Personal Magnifiers &/or Closed-Circuit Television Systems (CCTVs)
Some Visually Impaired students may have a personal magnifier and/or CCTV as part of their school equipment, when prescribed by their eye care specialist. Most personal magnification devices are portable, and can be available for use in the school Library.
Personal magnifiers are usually hand-held devices, which can be used with any paper information. They may also work for brief, emergency computer monitor access.
The CCTV, or video magnifier, is a system which uses a video camera to project a magnified image of a book page or handout onto a screen or monitor. The camera consists of a zoom lens which magnifies an image. In most cases, the zoom lens has a set magnification and focus which the individual user can manipulate and set when they have identified the most comfortable and functional working distance for the material. Some systems feature a lens that has an automatic focus, while others have a fixed focus. Many low vision children and adults can benefit from the use of stronger magnification devices because their glasses or hand held devices no longer provide enough magnification. The CCTV allows for the individual to choose and create the best contrast level, magnification level, text and background color combinations.
The CCTV has two common styles.
1. The first type of system is stand mounted where the material has to be placed onto a tray below the camera lens. This tray is also referred to as the “XY” table. This table/tray is able to be manipulated by the user to move left to right and up and down manually or with a switch. The stand mounted system is convenient to use to write because it is designed with enough space for a writing utensil to be used under the camera.
2. The second system is a handheld system or portable system. The camera is a separate unit which can be moved within its reaching distance to the object or material to be viewed. Some handheld systems are available with rollers which allows for the system to be moved smoothly on a flat surface. As with the stand mounted system, the some handheld systems offer a writing stand as an accessory item. These two systems can be found in one unit.
#1. CCTV #2. Quicklook Zoom Portable Video Magnifier4. The Library staff may work in conjunction with IU 13 Vision Support staff. Students identified as having a Visual Impairment, and who have an IEP for that exceptionality, will have a Vision Support staff member assigned to their case. You may contact that person at any time to assist you. Your Principal, Guidance Counselor, and/or classroom teacher should have a name and contact information for that person. All Vision Support staff may be contacted at the IU office by calling #717-606-1600 and asking for the Vision Support Program. Please have the student's name and your specific requests handy when you call.
IU 13 can provide the following materials for your Visually Impaired student:
n large print textbooks which we will order from PaTTAN in Harrisburg (a clearinghouse for adapted materials) or American Printing House for the Blind (APH)
n generic enlarged Library books from our limited warehouse collection. Specific titles may be requested. The majority of our collection is appropriate for elementary level readers.
5. Freeware/Shareware Screen Magnification
The following software is available to anyone for free.
* You will need to contact your school district's Technology Department to discuss district policy regarding downloading software onto school district computers. Firewalls and network administrative issues need to be addressed with your school system's IT personnel.
These programs offer magnifying lens or stationary window __down loads available at__ www.magnifiers.org
Magnifiers
(DEMO)
Only
3.0
(mouse/caret)
These freeware/shareware products offer full screen magnification.
How to Make Your Library Accessible to the Visually Impaired
Windows Systems
Windows has several options built into their Start Menu. These options can be easily accessed by clicking the Start button, click Programs, click Accessories, and lastly click Accessibility.
The following options will allow the user to make changes needed to suit their visual needs.
Accessibility Wizard walks the user through a series of questions to set their visual preferences. Preferences include changing the icon size, the mouse size, contrast, the cursor size, the font size, the scroll bar size, as well as utilizing the screen magnifier.
Magnifier gives a partial screen magnification "window". The user can adjust the size of the magnification window by dragging the edge with the mouse cursor, to a maximum of ½ screen size. Magnification levels are 1-9x. The magnification can be adjusted to follow the mouse, follow the keyboard focus, and to follow the text editing. Lastly, it also allows the user to change the contrast or use white letters on a dark background.
Narrator is a very limited screen reader. It will read aloud on-screen text, dialog boxes, menus and buttons in the Windows environment only. Additional options include announcing events on the screen, reading typed characters, and moving the mouse pointer to an active item.
On Screen Keyboard displays a keyboard which is accessible using the mouse. (Not typically a need for visually impaired students)
Problems Encountered within Various School Districts in IU 13
All of these simple modifications to the windows environment can be solved by contacting your technology department to unlock the options listed above.
6. Computer Screen Enlargement Programs
A. Definition
Screen enlargement programs refer “to either a software program loaded into a computer’s memory that will magnify text and graphics that appear in most common applications, or a hardware/software system that [do] the same thing.” This is not to be confused with hardware magnification systems that are magnifying lenses mounted on top of monitors. Magnification programs run simultaneously with the computer’s operating system and enlarge “the information on the screen by pre-determined incremental” levels of magnification. Typically, the enlargement is from 2 to 16 times the original size. Inexpensive screen magnification programs limit magnification to 2X and some of the more sophisticated products offer magnification up to 32X. The price of magnification software (without speech output) can vary from $400-$600.
B. Types of Screen Enlargement Programs
In general, screen magnification programs are available in three types.
1. “Full-featured screen magnifier,” that enlarges the whole screen. Most of the full featured screen magnification programs now include a text to speech feature.
2. A "magnifying lens" that enlarges a portion of the screen that is displayed as a moving “viewport” around the mouse.
3. "Basic screen magnification programs," such as that contained in the Control Panel of Microsoft Windows 98 and Windows 2000, in the section of called "Accessibility Options". This feature enlarges part of the screen in a narrow window which is visible along the top of the screen. Similarly, Macintosh Systems Software includes a screen magnifying option called Zoom, found within Tiger 10.4 and above.
C. Current Options
Presently, there are five leading full-featured screen magnification programs for Windows based software to choose from.
1. System Access from Serotek Corporation -- a free program accessible on-line or with a free USB drive, for those students who need minor visual adaptations (DEMO).
2. ZoomText 9.1 from Ai Squared -- for sale, for those students who need major visual adaptations (DEMO)
3. Magic 8.0, for sale from Freedom Scientific
4. Lunar Plus 5.3, for sale from Dolphin Computer Access
5. BigShot, for sale from Ai Squared.
With the exception of BigShot, which is a simple screen magnifier for individuals requiring minimal magnification, the remaining four products have screen reader capacity.
D. Disadvantages
Adding software screen enlargement to a computer will consume conventional memory in the computer and could cause problems with other software application packages which access the same memory. For those programs without the speech option, heightened magnification will reduce efficiency for reading and locating information on the screen. For example, the larger the magnification level, the less text will appear on the screen at one time. Thus, the user must use the mouse or pan feature to access all information available at the original size. Additionally, for those who have 12 inch monitors this proposes additional problems with magnified material going off the screen. In this case, purchasing a larger monitor may be the best, but costly solution.
E. Demo Version / Trials www.largeprint.com or www.magnifiers.org
Your IU 13 Vision Support staff member will most likely do software trials with the VI student. They may go to one of these websites to download a demo version (if one exists) of the program. You may wish to do a trial for yourself, so that you can test it with your Library programs. Please be sure to discuss this with your district technology department prior to any demo download.
After the demo program is downloaded, and the trial time expires, if it is determined by the student's
educational team, that they would benefit from its use, while the school district is ordering it, the demo
can simply be rebooted for another trial period.
- For Zoomtext and BigShot the trial is for 30 days only, with NO reboot option.
Example: Zoomtext 9.1 www.aisquared.comOnce on the website, see the left pane for access to the " Tutorial ". This will give you an excellent idea of the capabilities of this program.
Personal Screen Magnification Systems
With new advancements in technology, many of the companies producing screen magnification software are making this software available on a flash drive or USB drive. This makes all computer systems in your library accessible by inserting the thumb drive into the USB port. Zoomtext by AiSquared, is now producing this type of software, however in order for a student to run the software it must be installed. Therefore, the student would require administrative privileges.
System Access
The Serotek Corporation has partnered with several vendors to provide a full suite of accessibility tools including a screen reader (speech output) and screen magnification software. This software is available completely free to anyone, anywhere, with an internet connection by going to www.satogo.com. The software is compatible with Windows XP and Vista (all versions), Internet Explorer 6 & 7, MicroSoft Office 2003 and 2007, Adobe Reader and Mozilla Firefox. Keys for K-12 provides a free license for System Access suite to all K through 12 students in the U.S. This same software is available on a flash drive inserted into the USB port. Unlike Zoomtext, this is a U3 software program that does not need to be installed on the hard drive. This software runs within the system tray. For more information please visit www.serotek.com/kk12.html
Custom Settings Available include:
Text-to-Speech preferences: Text-to speech engine, Voice, Speaking Rate, Speaking Pitch, Punctuation
Magnification preferences: system access menu selections, screen magnification; select magnify, select larger or smaller buttons to adjust the magnification size
Problems Encountered within Various School Districts in IU 13
All of these simple modifications to the windows environment can be solved by contacting your technology department to unlock the options listed above.
7. If the student has a laptop device with enlarging software installed, the Library staff can place documents that they have created or copied onto a USB (Flash) drive. The student can upload the files, and use their software to access them.
Mac and Apple Systems
http://www.apple.com/accessibility/macosx/vision.html
Apple systems new OS software starting from Tiger 10.4 and above has included built in software to accommodate the need of the visually impaired. The universal options menus is accessible by clicking the apple, click system preferences, and then click universal options. The Mac OS X includes many features to assist you, including a built-in screen reader, voice commands, screen magnification, high-contrast settings, and other technologies and features described below.
VoiceOver (speech output)
Your preferences — to go
Once you’ve customized your own Mac, you can take all your VoiceOver settings with you on the road. To do so, connect a USB flash drive to your Mac and choose Create Portable Preferences from the File menu in VoiceOver Utility.When you connect the flash drive to a Mac, VoiceOver automatically detects its presence and instantly reconfigures itself to match the Portable Preferences saved on the flash drive for such items as your Pronunciation Dictionary, Braille input key assignments, and NumPad Commander settings.
Once you’ve customized your own Mac, you can take all your VoiceOver settings with you on the road. To do so, connect a USB flash drive to your Mac and choose Create Portable Preferences from the File menu in VoiceOver Utility.
When you connect the flash drive to a Mac, VoiceOver automatically detects its presence and instantly reconfigures itself to match the Portable Preferences saved on the flash drive for such items as your Pronunciation Dictionary, Braille input key assignments, and NumPad Commander settings.
ZOOM (screen magnification software)
Magnification: Zoom lets you use the scroll wheel on a mouse, a trackpad gesture, or key commands to magnify the entire contents of your screen by up to 40x.
Cursor Magnification: enlarges the contents of your display at any time using Zoom, located in the Universal Access pane in System Preferences. Zoom lets you use the scroll wheel on a mouse, a trackpad gesture, or key commands to magnify the entire contents of your screen.
Contrast: You can increase or decrease contrast by switching the screen to white-on-black or black-on-white, and you can vary the contrast using a slider control. If you would like to remove all color from the screen, you’ll find controls for displaying everything in black and white or grayscale.
Finder View Options: Use View Options (Command-J) to adjust the text size of icon names (from 10 to 16 points) and their thumbnail previews (from 16 by 16 to 128 by 128 pixels). You can change the background, normally white, to any color to increase contrast. And you can adjust the grid spacing between icons as well.
Dock Magnification: Though the Dock can be quite small if you add a great many items, Mac OS X lets you set the default size of Dock icons so they're easier to see. You can also use Dock Magnification to automatically enlarge the icon currently under the mouse pointer.
Safari Cascading Stylesheets (CSS)
The Safari web browser included with Mac OS X features additional Universal Access preferences for web browsing. For example, a checkbox can be set to prevent a web page from being displayed using fonts smaller than the minimum size you set, from 9 to 24 point. By default, pressing the Tab key in Safari navigates only the toolbar and the form elements on a page. Pressing Option-Tab will navigate every element. If you prefer, you switch this behavior so pressing Tab key by itself will navigate every element and pressing Option-Tab navigates only the toolbar and form elements.Using the style sheet pop-up preference, you can apply a custom cascading style sheet, called a “css”, that changes the way a web site is displayed without requiring the web site author to make any changes. This is a great way to customize the appearance of web pages to suit your specific needs.
Problems Encountered within Various Districts
4. System Preferences is blocked to students
5. Universal Options menus are blocked to students
6. VoiceOver does not work with Apple Words or MS Word. In order for the user to utilize speech output for word processing they must utilize Text Edit. This is similar to word pad in the windows system. This should be made accessible so VI students and type their information and then cut and paste it into the word processing document of their choice.
- All of these simple modifications to the windows environment can be solved by
contacting your technology department to unlock the options listed above.The "How To" of Library Access: Braille
1. If the student has a Braille laptop device, the Library staff can place documents that they have created or copied onto a USB (Flash) drive. The student can upload the files, to their device and use it to access them.
2. Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped
919 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107
#1-800-222-1754 FAX #215-683-3211
Mon-Fri 9am - 5pm
Website: http://lbph.library.phila.gov
Email: flpblind@library.phila.gov
Students must be official clients of this Library. IU 13 Vision Support Staff are the "certifying authorities" required to verify visual impairment. The application will establish the student's reading level, number of materials needed each month, and type of material requested, as well as the mailing address. Materials may be sent directly to the school if you have that address on record.
Texts are available in Braille. Once a client, the student or the school Library staff may contact the Library via mail, phone, FAX, email or OPAC to order books, and to make changes to the student's profile. Typically, the Braille materials will arrive in a hard box. To return the materials, the student should flip the print address label, and place the box into the U.S. mail out-box in the building. The materials are sent and returned via Free Matter for the Blind.
OPAC (Online Public Access Catalog) lists Braille books available at the website listed above. Books can be searched by title, subject or author. Access is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You will need the student's name and book ordering information.
3. Seedlings Braille Books for Children
P.O.Box 51924
Livonia, MI 48151-5924
Phone #800-777-8552 FAX #734-427-8552
Website: www.seedlings.org Email: seedlink@aol.com
Seedlings Braille Books for Children is a non-profit, tax exempt organization dedicated to increasing the opportunity for literacy by providing high quality, low-cost children's literature in Braille (and in some cases print with Braille).
Book levels include ages 1-12. Ages 1-5 includes books with print & Braille & pictures. Ages 4-9 includes books with print & Braille. Ages 7 and up include books in the fiction, non-fiction and poetry categories. They are sold for approximately one-half of what it costs to produce them, with prices generally between $4-22. Purchase orders are accepted. A catalog is available for ~1000 books.
4. National Braille Press
88 St. Stephen Street
Boston, MA 02115
Phone: 617-266-6160, Ext 20 (Toll free) #800-548-7323
Catalog orders: 800-548-7323
FAX: 617-437-0456
Email orders: orders@nbp.org
Website: www.nbp.org or www.braille.com
This company sells Braille, cassette and disk materials, which are shipped "Free Matter for the Blind". Allow 4-6 weeks for delivery. Orders can be sent via UPS, for a fee. Contact their Customer Service Dep't for rates, #800-548-7323.
Titles are available in the following categories: Baby Board books, Tactiles, print/Braille picture books, textbooks and tests, educational books, poetry, valentines and magic, literature, self-help, cookbooks, adaptive technology.
Almost all products are also available in PortaBook format (disk or CD-ROM) or for download from their website into a Braille note-taking device.
5. The Library staff may work in conjunction with IU 13 Vision Support staff. Students identified as having a Visual Impairment, and who have an IEP for that exceptionality, will have a Vision Support staff member assigned to their case. You may contact that person at any time to assist you. Your Principal, Guidance Counselor, and/or classroom teacher should have a name and contact information for that person.
All Vision Support staff may be contacted at the IU office by calling #717-606-1600 and asking for the Vision Support Program. Please have the student's name and your specific requests handy when you call.
IU 13 can provide the following materials for your Visually Impaired student:
- Braille textbooks, which we will order from PaTTAN in Harrisburg, a clearinghouse for adapted materials), or American Printing House for the Blind (APH)
- Braille handouts for your Library classroom (which we will produce in-house)
- Generic Braille Library books from our limited warehouse collection. Specific titles may be requested. The majority of our collection is appropriate for elementary level readers.
The "How To" of Library Access: Speech
1. Using a sighted peer or adult as a "Reader" is often a part of the VI student's IEP accommodations. The "Reader" does not teach the student, nor do they give them the answers. They simply act as a pair of "eyes" and say aloud the information that the visually impaired student is unable to access.
2. Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped
919 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107
#1-800-222-1754 FAX #215-683-3211
Mon-Fri 9am - 5pm
Website: http://lbph.library.phila.gov
Email: flpblind@library.phila.gov
Students must be official clients of this Library. IU 13 Vision Support Staff are the "certifying authorities" required to verify visual impairment. The application will establish the student's reading level, number of materials needed each month, and type of material requested, as well as the mailing address. Materials may be sent directly to the school if you have that address on record.
Texts are available on cassette. Once a client, the student or the school Library staff may contact the Library via mail, phone, FAX, email or OPAC to order books, and to make changes to the student's profile. Typically, the materials will arrive in a hard plastic container. To return the materials, the student should flip the print address label, and place the container into the U.S. mail out-box in the building. The materials are sent and returned via Free Matter for the Blind.
OPAC (Online Public Access Catalog) lists cassette books available at the website listed above. Books can be searched by title, subject or author. Access is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You will need the student's name and book ordering information.
- RFB&D
IU 13 may order textbooks, including Literature Classics from Recordings for the Blind & Dyslexic. Mature students may order their own texts. IU 13 pays for the student's membership at this agency. The School District is usually asked to purchase the hardware and software needed as part of the student's IEP. Books come on CD or as downloadable e-texts.IU 13 will instruct the student in the process of accessing and using these texts as a part of their IEP. When learned, the students take responsibility for ordering and using the texts independently.
There are 3 main ways to access these texts:
1. with a CD and a specialized CD player purchased from RFB&D; the player can be brought to school as needed, but is typically used for homework (2 samples below)
2. with a CD and specialized software purchased from RFB&D; usually loaded onto the student's computer at home
3. by downloading from the RFB&D website onto the personal or school* computer, and then into the student's personal Braille (laptop) note-taking device; backup copies are often stored on USB drives because of their size
4. Screen Reading Software
JAWS for Windows -- The most popular screen reader worldwide, JAWS® for Windows® by Freedom Scientific, works with your PC to provide access to today’s software applications and the Internet. With its internal software speech synthesizer and the computer’s sound card, information from the screen is read aloud, providing technology to access a wide variety of information, education and job related applications. JAWS also outputs to refreshable Braille displays, providing unmatched Braille support of any screen reader on the market.
JAWS is most often used by students who are totally blind and have exceptional cognitive skills. There are a multitude of commands that must be memorized in order to access the complete realm of computer programs used in a typical Library through the use of JAWS.
5. READERS -- for downloading DAISY files
The Mobile Reader Product Line from knfbReading Technologies, Inc., is a major advancement in portability and functionality of print access for the blind, the vision impaired and those with reading difficulties. The knfbReader Mobile and kReader Mobile software packages run on a multifunction cell phone that allow the user to read mail, receipts, handouts and many other documents wherever the user happens to be. This is a truly pocket-sized solution to reading on the go. The knfbReader Mobile software has a feature set designed for blind or low vision users. The kReader Mobile is designed for people who have difficulty reading due to learning or language problems. knfb Reading Technologies is a Joint Venture between Kurzweil Technologies and the National Federation of the Blind.
The "How To" of Library Access: Speech +
1. Optical Character Recognition Systems
A. Definition
Optical Character Recognition (OCR) systems, for the blind or visually impaired user, convert printed text into a computer file, which is then read via synthesized speech, Braille, or magnified output on a monitor. According to the AFB, “there are three essential elements to OCR technology --scanning, recognition, and reading text.” First, the printed text is scanned by a camera. The images are converted by the OCR software into words and characters that can be recognized. Once recognized, the text is spoken by the speech synthesizer. The information is then stored in temporary files within a computer or the memory of the OCR system itself, where they can later be retrieved and used with a variety of applications.
B. There are two general categories of OCR systems: scanning and reading software for use with a personal computer, and (self-contained) stand-alone systems.
1. Scanning and Reading Software
Most scanning and reading software has similar basic features. The software makes printed or electronic text accessible to blind or visually-impaired users by converting it into speech and/or magnified text. Each has a variety of speech options available, such as speed and pitch, to allow the user to customize to suit his/her needs. Almost any form of printed material that can fit on the scanner can be scanned and saved. Most of the products researched also have the ability to access and save files, edit scanned material, make/take notes, make margin notes, and bookmark. Various tools for writing and editing are also included, such as spell checker, thesaurus, and dictionary. Some of the products also have the ability to speak each letter or word as it is being typed. Most of the software can allow the user to access and read electronic text formats & files, including .doc, .pdf, and .rtf, send files to other devices, and search, download and read electronic books and magazines from sites including Web Braille, Gutenberg, Bookshare.org, and others. For Braille readers, some programs allow transfer of files to a Braille embosser or to/from a Braille note taker. For low vision users, the software allows a display of magnified images in black and white, color, or inverse text, and can highlight words as they are spoken.
2. Stand-Alone Systems
Stand-alone scanning and reading systems are beneficial for individuals who only want to read documents, and/or are unfamiliar with personal computers. They simplify the process of scanning and reading by including a PC, keypad, flatbed scanner, sound card, speakers, disk drives, and OCR software in one unit. The individual can scan his/her reading material, have it read back, save it to a file, and in some systems, connect with other products such as a Braille note-taker.
Example: OpenBook Scanning and Reading Software
Scan N Talk
2. Screen Readers
Screen Readers are software programs that read text on the computer screen in a manner that an individual who is blind or visually impaired could know what is on the screen. The screen reader identifies graphics such as those located on the tool bar or icons located on the Desktop. It also reads menus, text, punctuation, and control buttons. Newer versions of screen readers will read what is happening on the screen, for instance which dialogue boxes are opening on the screen.
- Braille: Other types of screen readers may transfer the information to a Braille display so that the person can read the Braille instead of listening to the information.
The screen reader allows the person listening to control the computer via special keyboard commands, which the screen reader employs solely for the individual who is blind or visually impaired, instead of the mouse. Some screen readers operate using their own touch-pad instead of a keyboard.A. Using a Screen Reader
To use a screen reader, a software screen-reading program is needed. This program gives information to the speech synthesizer. The speech synthesizer is hardware or software that produces electronic human speech on the computer. This voice is what reads the information sent from the screen to the computer user. Most often the speech synthesizer is included with the screen reader. Without the speech synthesizer there would be no voice output. Most programs include different male and female voices to choose from. The cost of programs range from free downloads to approximately $2,000.00. Screen Readers are primarily available for Windows applications. However, there are a few compatible with Macintosh.
B. Advantages
· Offer input to speech synthesizers
· Offer input to Braille display
· Come equipped with speech synthesizer
· Offer choice in speech output
· Can be used in school, home, and office settings
· Hot key commands as an alternative to using the mouse
· Available for pocket PC’s
· Choose from male or female voice
· Voices available in international languages
· Interactive talking installation
· Supports Internet Explorer
C. Disadvantages
· Can be very costly
· Not all available in Macintosh Format
· Typing too fast distorts the speech
· Not all provide a spoken list of keyboard commands
· Not all include the speech synthesizer
· Some synthesized voices are difficult to listen to
Screen Reader Programs: Side-by-side Comparison
Standart $795 Battery operated synthesizer program $895. Without a synthesizer $525.
Adobe Reader and Mozilla Firefox
happening on screen. If you have a visual impairment, VoiceOver enables you to work collaboratively
with other Mac users or work on their computers without assistance.
3. Some visually impaired students may be using "e-books" (publications that require access through electronic means). E-books can be read on-line, downloaded and read on a computer, or downloaded and read on a dedicated hardware device.
Ebooks come in 4 main types:
1. Digital Braille (.brf files) which are ready to be made into hard copy Braille, or can be used with an electronic Braille note-taker (laptop) or refreshable Braille device.
2. Digital audio (DAISY files, e.g. .wav, .smil) requires a special digital player or software; RFB&D is an example of this type of e-book
3. E-text files can be converted into Braille which is then made into a hard copy, or used on a Braille note-taker or refreshable Braille device, or screen reader or screen magnification software.
4. Commercial e-books usually require a specialized player, and are often inaccessible to blind readers
Ebooks in the Public Domain are usually available for free download by anyone. Copyrighted books in specialized formats are available only to individuals with disabilities who qualify under the U.S. Copyright Law as amended.
Two examples of online Libraries of accessible media for readers with print disabilities are:
www.bookshare.org You can create an individual or group account. Free subscription for users who qualify for services. Books, textbooks and periodicals are available. Formats available include DAISY (text), .brf (copyrighted books), .html and .txt (books in pubic domain). Registration can be done online, but proof of visual disability must be included (e.g. IU 13 Vision Support teacher), and you must request a free student subscription.
http://www.gutenberg.net Project Gutenberg is the oldest digital library with the largest source of out-of-copyright e-texts. There is no fee. Books, speeches, videos, music and pictures are available. Formats include .txt, .html, .mp3, .mpg (video). Use the website; no sign-up is required.
See next two pages for a complete listing of sources for electronic books.**